Calling all Wharton 2011 Applicants

I just came home from my Wharton HUB interview. Here my debrief:

Of course there weren't any questions about why MBA, why now, career goals, or why Wharton.

The interviewer was a Consultant from Wharton (she wasn't a Wharton MBA graduate). She cordially explained that she would ask only three behavioral questions and that she would be taking a lot of notes. She also said that the interview would only last between 20 and 30 minutes.

And that's all, let's start. "Are you prepared?" one, two, three... go!
"Describe a time when you had to work with a team and had to accept the opinion of others"
I started explaining the context of my story, and a lot of things totally unrelated with the question. Suddenly, my brain went blind and I realized I had totally forgotten what she had exactly asked. I knew it was something about team work but with all my brain working on my story I forgot the question. I was just about to say "sorry, what was the question?" but well I decided to continue speaking (and probably avoided a 0 points in the question). Thankfully, after a few seconds (and a lot of concentration) I remembered the question and I could finish my story answering it....

No time for more. While I was drinking some water, she was already asking me the second question. Some thing like:
"Tell me a time when you had to work in a team without a leader"
Again, I also spoke about a strong story but a lot about other things not totally related to the question.... I hope the girl's report is not only strictly based on the answer to the question but also reports some other things.

Finally, last question, the end was near.
"Tell me a time when you had to listen others' views."
She also said.. "I think this can be also answered with your first response... but please try to find a different story if you can¨
Another story? what? Come one I don't have 100 stories to tell you.... I was totally off the guard. I had to think at least 10-15 seconds to choose one and I'm not sure I chose the correct story. And well, I did it extremely well or extremely bad. Why? because I had prepared this story in case of asking about a "failure" and I used it to answer this question. Anyway kind of weird to receive almost the same question in 1 and 3....

I don't know what the interviewer will think about this, maybe she was surprised that I was honest about speaking about a failure, or maybe she will think I don't pay attention to people in my team, that I'm a bad guy as I don't listen others or whatever.

The "exam" was finished and I asked some questions about Wharton. But she wasn't a Wharton graduate so I probably knew a lot more than her about the school.

I also asked her why only these three questions this year. She said that Wharton wanted to be fair with candidates, as they have realized that the luck factor plays a big factor when interviews are done with an Alumni. An Alumni may like you or not, may like your background or not, and may be biased. She said that asking the same type of questions to all candidates is more fair. I guess I may agree with this approach somehow, though I also consider that it is an important skill to know how to win a interviewer.

She wished me luck and the interview was finished.

Hope this helps.

Random question, was there water already in the interview room or did you take a bottle with you? I've been debating whether to carry a bottle of water to my alumni interview (at his office) or not - I think I will need it but I don't know if it would be too unprofessional.

Also like how you called it an "exam" hahah.. great post!

Are the on-campus interviews conducted by 2nd year students / members of AdCom or are they conducted the hired consultants?

Thanks!

everyone who I talked to who was there and was also interviewing (on the tour, at lunch, etc.) had no idea that the interview format had changed and were only ready for "Why Wharton" etc.

That's great news, well, for us gmatclubbers. How did you know that they weren't prepared for the behavioral questions?

I would guess a non-trivial % of people might know, but never admit they know? The first hit when you google "wharton interview" now lists all six questions, so...

What is this "google" you speak of?

This might help

Had my interview yesterday on campus and matched what others have said.
First, everyone who I talked to who was there and was also interviewing (on the tour, at lunch, etc.) had no idea that the interview format had changed and were only ready for "Why Wharton" etc.

lol nice

BOY THAT SOUNDS FAIR, SO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS BOARD KNOWS ALL THE QUESTIONS BY NOW AND HOW TO ANSWER THEM AND EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT BUT EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING INTO THIS COLD.

BUT WAIT, ARE YOU SURE THEY HAVE NOT HIRED CONSULTANTS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE THE WHARTON ANSWER SHEETS, FROM FRIENDS ETC. WHO ARE WHARTON ALUMS [JUST LIKE I GOT IT] AND THOSE KIDS HAVE CONCOCTED EVEN BETER BS THAN YOU, AND ALSO THAT THE CONSULTANTS TOLD THEM TO PLAY DUMB IN THE WAITING ROOM??? WHICH IS WHAT I WOULD ADVISE KIDS DO, IF I WERE GIVING MOCK WHARTON INTERVIEWS.


NAH, TOO CRAZY, YOU'RE NOT THE SUCKER, THE POOR BASTARDS IN THE WAITING ROOM, ALL OF THEM, AS YOU NOTE, ARE THE SUCKERS.

ANYONE STILL THINK THIS PROCESS IS FAIR????
ESPECIALLY YOU WHARTON APOLOGISTS WHO CLAIM THAT DUE TO WIDESPREAD INTERNET BLAH, BLAH LIKE EVERYONE KNOWS THE QUESTIONS????

First, everyone who I talked to who was there and was also interviewing (on the tour, at lunch, etc.) had no idea that the interview format had changed and were only ready for "Why Wharton" etc.

ANYONE STILL THINK THIS PROCESS IS FAIR????

In-n-out in 35 minutes. Very pleasant experience. Short sweet simple and FAIR!!

As to life being unfair, I cert agree, it is unfair enuf so that we dont need a suposedly enlightened adcom to build a system w. sort of random unfairness built in to it on top of that. And I suppose if they just chose the admits going forward randomly by the throwing the whole pile on the stairs method, and told you, "life is unfair, get over it" you would be "down" w. that too. Seems that Wharton can do no wrong, just so long as they accept you.

I can see your point, believe me, but I hope you can see mine.

Random question, was there water already in the interview room or did you take a bottle with you? I've been debating whether to carry a bottle of water to my alumni interview (at his office) or not - I think I will need it but I don't know if it would be too unprofessional.

Also like how you called it an "exam" hahah.. great post!